For more than 20 years, Joe Rickerson has been a chef and manager for reputed restaurants including Clarence Fosters, Abby, The Mansion, Downtown Hilton, The Midnight Sun, and La Tour. Guests of honor that have enjoyed "Chef Joe's" cuisine are President Jimmy Carter, Ambassador to the UN Andrew Young, Mohammed Ali, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield, Mayor Bill Campbell, Deion Sanders, congressman John Lewis and Hilton Hotels owner, Conrad Hilton. Among the numerous awards he has received, he was nominated as one of the "Top 2,000 Chefs in America Award.” He has also received the ultimate award in the Culinary Industry, "The Four Diamond Award" along with "The Best of the Best," "The Triple A Mobil Award," and "The Award Winning Crab Cake."

"Chef Joe" has donated much of his time to charitable events for many nonprofit organizations: The Amoco Project with President Carter to feed the homeless, AIDS Awareness, the Atlanta Food Bank, and Community Church Anniversaries.